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MCC's strict statement after protesters invade Lord's pitch and hurl paint during 2nd England vs Australia Ashes Test
The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), based at the Lord's issued a strong statement, condemning the actions of the two protesters who disrupted play at The Ashes.
Bizarre scenes unfolded on Day 1 of the 2nd Ashes Test between England and Australia at the iconic Lord's on Wednesday when a couple of oil protesters invaded the pitch and brought the play to an abrupt halt. Only the first over had been bowled and Australia moved to 4/0 when in between, a couple of protesters representing activist group 'Just Stop Oil' ran on with orange coloured paint but before they could reach the strip, both were stopped by players and the support staff.
While one of the protestors was taken control of by Ben Stokes and David Warner, Jonny Bairstow lifted the other and carried him on his shoulders before dropping him at the boundary line. He was then taken by the police. Bairstow dashed to the dressing room for a change of outfits as the ground staff wiped off the paint from the ground. Following the disrupt, an MCC spokesperson said: “Following the earlier pitch incursion, three people have been arrested for aggravated trespassing and taken into police custody and it is now a Metropolitan Police matter.”
However, that was not all. The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club), based at the Lord's issued a strong statement highly condemning the actions. "MCC condemn in the strongest possible terms today's pitch incursion and with the behaviour of the protesters involved," it said. "Their actions not only endanger themselves and those who work at the ground but they have consistently shown complete disregard for the people who pay to attend events, not just here at Lord's but around the country at other sporting venues."
This isn't the first time that Just Stop Oil, a coalition of environmental action groups, that who wants the British government to stop new fuel licensing and production has vandalised sporting events in the UK. Over the past 18 months, they have disrupted the several tournaments including several English Premier League matches and the final of rugby union's Premiership and the World Snooker Championship. Besides, they held up the England team bus briefly during the Test against Ireland in London earlier this month, and also targeted the world snooker championship in Sheffield.
"Cricket is an important part of our national heritage, but how can we enjoy England vs Australia when much of the cricketing world is becoming unfit for humans to live in? We can no longer afford to distract ourselves when the sports we play, the food we eat, and the culture we cherish is at risk," a Just Oil spokesperson said as per ESPNCricinfo.
"It's time for cricket lovers and all those who understand the severity of this situation, to get onto the streets and demand action from this illegitimate, criminal government. When our children ask us 'what did we do?' to avert this crisis, we better have a good answer."
